Film sealing and wrapping machine with rotary cut and seal jaw

Abstract

The film sealing and wrapping machine with a rotary cut and seal jaw is provided. The rotary cut and seal jaw has an internal sliding mechanism which provides for smooth and quiet operation. The rotational speed of the jaw may be varied to increase through put and to provide for a title bag around products. The rotary cut and seal jaw may comprise a seal bar and pressure pad may both be spring loaded to self align the seal bar and pressure pad during the sealing and cutting process. Lastly, a gap defined by a belt disposed upstream and downstream of the seal bar and pressure pad may be mechanically linked to the pressure pad through a control carriage.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A rotary sealing and cutting jaw for a film sealing and wrapping machine, the rotary sealing and cutting jaw comprising:
 a first cross member traveling along a first circular path which is equidistant from a first central rotating axis and maintaining an angular orientation of the first cross member during the entire first circular path; 
 a first rotary member attached to the first cross member wherein the first rotary member rotates about the first central rotating axis, a first caming mechanism incorporated into the first rotary member, the first caming mechanism allowing the first cross member to travel along the first circular path and to maintain the angular orientation of the first cross member during the entire first circular path; 
 a second cross member traveling along a second circular path which is equidistant from a second central rotating axis and maintaining an angular orientation of the second cross member during the entire second circular path; 
 a second rotary member attached to the second cross member wherein the second rotary member rotates about the second central rotating axis, a second caming mechanism incorporated into the second rotary member, the second caming mechanism allowing the second cross member to travel along the second circular path and to maintain the angular orientation of the second cross member during the entire second circular path; 
 wherein the second rotary member and the second cross member are disposed opposite from the first rotary member and the first cross member; 
 wherein the first caming mechanism has first and second straight surfaces which are perpendicular to each other and the second straight cam surface is a groove formed in the slider. 
 
     
     
       2. The jaw of  claim 1  wherein the first straight surface is a groove formed in a slider. 
     
     
       3. The jaw of  claim 1  wherein the first rotary member is a first rotary drum with the first caming mechanism disposed within the first rotary drum and second rotary member is a second rotary drum with the second caming mechanism disposed within the second rotary drum. 
     
     
       4. The jaw of  claim 3  wherein the first rotary drum has a cylindrical shell configuration with the first caming mechanism disposed therewithin, and the second rotary drum is a cylindrical shell configuration with the second caming mechanism disposed therewithin. 
     
     
       5. A method of operating a rotary sealing and cutting jaw, the method comprising the steps of:
 rotating a first rotary drum attached to a first cross member so that the first cross member travels along a complete first circular path, wherein the first rotary drum includes a caming mechanism disposed within the first rotary drum to maintain a constant angular position of the first cross member along the complete first circular path; 
 rotating a second rotary drum attached to a second cross member so that the second cross member travels along a complete second circular path, wherein the second rotary drum includes as caming mechanism disposed within the second rotary drum to maintain a constant angular position of the second cross member along the complete second circular path; 
 synchronizing rotation of the first and second cross members so that the cross members approach and move apart from each other for each rotational cycle of the first and second rotary mechanisms; 
 maintaining an angular orientation of the first and second cross members throughout the complete first and second circular paths; 
 sliding a first driven member disposed within the first rotary drum and attached to the first cross member against a first straight cam surface of a first slider disposed within the first rotary drum; 
 sliding a second driven member disposed within the second rotary drum and attached to the second cross member against a second straight cam surface of a second slider disposed within the second rotary drum; and 
 traversing the first and second sliders in a first direction and the first and second driven members in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction against the first and second straight cam surfaces. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  further comprising the step of continuously lubricating the first and second cam actuated rotary drums during operation of the jaw. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5  wherein the first direction is horizontal and the second direction is vertical.